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Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill overhauling Alabama's largest water utility heads to governor's desk despite local outcry
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama legislators passed a bill on Thursday that would strip Birmingham of control over the state's largest water board and transfer power to the governor and surrounding suburbs, reigniting a decades-long, polarizing debate. Proponents of the bill point to frequent rate hikes and say that the move will prevent catastrophic events that have happened in cities like Jackson, Mississippi, or Detroit, Michigan. Opponents of the bill say that it is a power grab that diminishes the power of Black residents in Birmingham, Alabama. Birmingham city officials currently appoint six of the nine board members' seats, giving Birmingham leadership unrivaled influence over the decisions affecting the city's water. Board members approve rate hikes and manage infrastructure projects. If signed into law, SB330 would make the board just seven people. The mayor of Birmingham and the Birmingham city council would appoint two board members, while the governor, lieutenant governor and three neighboring county commission presidents would each appoint one board member. Five counties rely on the Birmingham Water Works Board, but over 40% of the utility's 770,000 customers are concentrated in the city of Birmingham, and 91% are in Jefferson County. The new system would give more weight to Birmingham's neighboring counties that house the reservoirs that supply the system. Republican lawmakers from the Birmingham suburbs sponsored the bill, saying that it will improve the efficiency of the system. They say aging infrastructure and lack of investment means residents pay for water that just gets leaked out of old pipes. 'So many elected officials have been getting so many complaints, and I'm sure yours have too, about the quality and the price of Birmingham water,' said Republican Rep. Jim Carns, who represents Blount County, one of the places that will now appoint a board member. The water board had approximately $1 billion in debt in 2023, according to the most recent financial statements, and the board has the second highest credit score, according to bond rating agencies. Carns said that the regional board would make the utility more frugal. reported that the utility has been accused of lacking transparency in recent years and has sometimes made costly errors in distributing bills. Trust in the board was further undermined in recent years after high-profile ethics scandals. Many in Alabama's vocal Democratic minority conceded that the board wasn't perfect, but they also condemned the move as a political takeover that would wrest power from Birmingham's majority Black residents and redistribute it to customers in the city's mostly white suburbs. 'Frankly the language used today was insulting, with words like competence being thrown around as if the city of Birmingham is not growing by leaps and bounds,' Democratic Rep. Kelvin Datcher of Birmingham said after the bill passed. He questioned how the new board's composition would address any of the bill sponsor's concerns about efficiency. Democratic legislators also took issue with the fact that they were excluded from the overall process. 'Each of us in this chamber would be rightfully concerned if outside representatives attempted to dictate how water systems operate in our districts without consulting us or even including us at the table, or, hell, even the room where this legislation was created,' Rep. Neil Rafferty of Birmingham said. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin joined Birmingham city council members for a press conference to echo those concerns. 'The ratepayers deserve to be at the forefront of this conversation, and they have not been,' Woodfin said. 'Let's call it what it is. This is a political power grab. This is not in the best interest of our citizens.' The bill passed along party lines 66 to 27. It now goes to Republican Gov. Kay Ivey's desk. The Associated Press
The Independent
01-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Bill overhauling Alabama's largest water utility heads to governor's desk despite local outcry
Alabama legislators passed a bill on Thursday that would strip Birmingham of control over the state's largest water board and transfer power to the governor and surrounding suburbs, reigniting a decades-long, polarizing debate. Proponents of the bill point to frequent rate hikes and say that the move will prevent catastrophic events that have happened in cities like Jackson, Mississippi, or Detroit, Michigan. Opponents of the bill say that it is a power grab that diminishes the power of Black residents in Birmingham, Alabama. Birmingham city officials currently appoint six of the nine board members' seats, giving Birmingham leadership unrivaled influence over the decisions affecting the city's water. Board members approve rate hikes and manage infrastructure projects. If signed into law, SB330 would make the board just seven people. The mayor of Birmingham and the Birmingham city council would appoint two board members, while the governor, lieutenant governor and three neighboring county commission presidents would each appoint one board member. Five counties rely on the Birmingham Water Works Board, but over 40% of the utility's 770,000 customers are concentrated in the city of Birmingham, and 91% are in Jefferson County. The new system would give more weight to Birmingham's neighboring counties that house the reservoirs that supply the system. Republican lawmakers from the Birmingham suburbs sponsored the bill, saying that it will improve the efficiency of the system. They say aging infrastructure and lack of investment means residents pay for water that just gets leaked out of old pipes. 'So many elected officials have been getting so many complaints, and I'm sure yours have too, about the quality and the price of Birmingham water,' said Republican Rep. Jim Carns, who represents Blount County, one of the places that will now appoint a board member. The water board had approximately $1 billion in debt in 2023, according to the most recent financial statements, and the board has the second highest credit score, according to bond rating agencies. Carns said that the regional board would make the utility more frugal. reported that the utility has been accused of lacking transparency in recent years and has sometimes made costly errors in distributing bills. Trust in the board was further undermined in recent years after high-profile ethics scandals. Many in Alabama's vocal Democratic minority conceded that the board wasn't perfect, but they also condemned the move as a political takeover that would wrest power from Birmingham's majority Black residents and redistribute it to customers in the city's mostly white suburbs. 'Frankly the language used today was insulting, with words like competence being thrown around as if the city of Birmingham is not growing by leaps and bounds,' Democratic Rep. Kelvin Datcher of Birmingham said after the bill passed. He questioned how the new board's composition would address any of the bill sponsor's concerns about efficiency. Democratic legislators also took issue with the fact that they were excluded from the overall process. 'Each of us in this chamber would be rightfully concerned if outside representatives attempted to dictate how water systems operate in our districts without consulting us or even including us at the table, or, hell, even the room where this legislation was created,' Rep. Neil Rafferty of Birmingham said. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin joined Birmingham city council members for a press conference to echo those concerns. 'The ratepayers deserve to be at the forefront of this conversation, and they have not been,' Woodfin said. 'Let's call it what it is. This is a political power grab. This is not in the best interest of our citizens.' The bill passed along party lines 66 to 27. It now goes to Republican Gov. Kay Ivey 's desk.
01-05-2025
- Politics
Bill overhauling Alabama's largest water utility heads to governor's desk despite local outcry
MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Alabama legislators passed a bill on Thursday that would strip Birmingham of control over the state's largest water board and transfer power to the governor and surrounding suburbs, reigniting a decades-long, polarizing debate. Proponents of the bill point to frequent rate hikes and say that the move will prevent catastrophic events that have happened in cities like Jackson, Mississippi, or Detroit, Michigan. Opponents of the bill say that it is a power grab that diminishes the power of Black residents in Birmingham, Alabama. Birmingham city officials currently appoint six of the nine board members' seats, giving Birmingham leadership unrivaled influence over the decisions affecting the city's water. Board members approve rate hikes and manage infrastructure projects. If signed into law, SB330 would make the board just seven people. The mayor of Birmingham and the Birmingham city council would appoint two board members, while the governor, lieutenant governor and three neighboring county commission presidents would each appoint one board member. Five counties rely on the Birmingham Water Works Board, but over 40% of the utility's 770,000 customers are concentrated in the city of Birmingham, and 91% are in Jefferson County. The new system would give more weight to Birmingham's neighboring counties that house the reservoirs that supply the system. Republican lawmakers from the Birmingham suburbs sponsored the bill, saying that it will improve the efficiency of the system. They say aging infrastructure and lack of investment means residents pay for water that just gets leaked out of old pipes. 'So many elected officials have been getting so many complaints, and I'm sure yours have too, about the quality and the price of Birmingham water,' said Republican Rep. Jim Carns, who represents Blount County, one of the places that will now appoint a board member. The water board had approximately $1 billion in debt in 2023, according to the most recent financial statements, and the board has the second highest credit score, according to bond rating agencies. Carns said that the regional board would make the utility more frugal. reported that the utility has been accused of lacking transparency in recent years and has sometimes made costly errors in distributing bills. Trust in the board was further undermined in recent years after high-profile ethics scandals. Many in Alabama's vocal Democratic minority conceded that the board wasn't perfect, but they also condemned the move as a political takeover that would wrest power from Birmingham's majority Black residents and redistribute it to customers in the city's mostly white suburbs. 'Frankly the language used today was insulting, with words like competence being thrown around as if the city of Birmingham is not growing by leaps and bounds,' Democratic Rep. Kelvin Datcher of Birmingham said after the bill passed. He questioned how the new board's composition would address any of the bill sponsor's concerns about efficiency. Democratic legislators also took issue with the fact that they were excluded from the overall process. 'Each of us in this chamber would be rightfully concerned if outside representatives attempted to dictate how water systems operate in our districts without consulting us or even including us at the table, or, hell, even the room where this legislation was created,' Rep. Neil Rafferty of Birmingham said. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin joined Birmingham city council members for a press conference to echo those concerns. 'The ratepayers deserve to be at the forefront of this conversation, and they have not been,' Woodfin said. 'Let's call it what it is. This is a political power grab. This is not in the best interest of our citizens.' The bill passed along party lines 66 to 27. It now goes to Republican Gov. Kay Ivey's desk.
Associated Press
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Bill overhauling Alabama's largest water utility heads to governor's desk despite local outcry
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama legislators passed a bill on Thursday that would strip Birmingham of control over the state's largest water board and transfer power to the governor and surrounding suburbs, reigniting a decades-long, polarizing debate. Proponents of the bill point to frequent rate hikes and say that the move will prevent catastrophic events that have happened in cities like Jackson, Mississippi, or Detroit, Michigan. Opponents of the bill say that it is a power grab that diminishes the power of Black residents in Birmingham, Alabama. Birmingham city officials currently appoint six of the nine board members' seats, giving Birmingham leadership unrivaled influence over the decisions affecting the city's water. Board members approve rate hikes and manage infrastructure projects. If signed into law, SB330 would make the board just seven people. The mayor of Birmingham and the Birmingham city council would appoint two board members, while the governor, lieutenant governor and three neighboring county commission presidents would each appoint one board member. Five counties rely on the Birmingham Water Works Board, but over 40% of the utility's 770,000 customers are concentrated in the city of Birmingham, and 91% are in Jefferson County. The new system would give more weight to Birmingham's neighboring counties that house the reservoirs that supply the system. Republican lawmakers from the Birmingham suburbs sponsored the bill, saying that it will improve the efficiency of the system. They say aging infrastructure and lack of investment means residents pay for water that just gets leaked out of old pipes. 'So many elected officials have been getting so many complaints, and I'm sure yours have too, about the quality and the price of Birmingham water,' said Republican Rep. Jim Carns, who represents Blount County, one of the places that will now appoint a board member. The water board had approximately $1 billion in debt in 2023, according to the most recent financial statements, and the board has the second highest credit score, according to bond rating agencies. Carns said that the regional board would make the utility more frugal. reported that the utility has been accused of lacking transparency in recent years and has sometimes made costly errors in distributing bills. Trust in the board was further undermined in recent years after high-profile ethics scandals. Many in Alabama's vocal Democratic minority conceded that the board wasn't perfect, but they also condemned the move as a political takeover that would wrest power from Birmingham's majority Black residents and redistribute it to customers in the city's mostly white suburbs. 'Frankly the language used today was insulting, with words like competence being thrown around as if the city of Birmingham is not growing by leaps and bounds,' Democratic Rep. Kelvin Datcher of Birmingham said after the bill passed. He questioned how the new board's composition would address any of the bill sponsor's concerns about efficiency. Democratic legislators also took issue with the fact that they were excluded from the overall process. 'Each of us in this chamber would be rightfully concerned if outside representatives attempted to dictate how water systems operate in our districts without consulting us or even including us at the table, or, hell, even the room where this legislation was created,' Rep. Neil Rafferty of Birmingham said. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin joined Birmingham city council members for a press conference to echo those concerns. 'The ratepayers deserve to be at the forefront of this conversation, and they have not been,' Woodfin said. 'Let's call it what it is. This is a political power grab. This is not in the best interest of our citizens.' The bill passed along party lines 66 to 27. It now goes to Republican Gov. Kay Ivey's desk.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Alabama House passes bill overhauling Birmingham Water Works Board
Rep. Neil Rafferty, D-Birmingham, speaks during a debate over a bill changing the make-up of the Birmingham Water Works Board on May 1, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Jim Carns, R-Vestavia, passed the House over the objections of Jefferson County Democrats. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) The Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday to reorganize the Birmingham Water Works Board (BWWB) over the objections of Jefferson County Democrats who called it state meddling in local affairs. SB 330, sponsored by Sen. Dan Roberts, R-Mountain Brook, allows each of the following entities to appoint one member to the board of the utility: the City of Birmingham, Birmingham City Council, Jefferson County Commission, Blount County Commission, Shelby County Commission, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Governor. The governor's appointment is restricted to a resident of Jefferson County. The legislation passed the Senate last week unanimously. 'I say it's a miracle because I've been here a lot of years,' he said. 'Never, ever have I ever seen a bill where Jefferson County was involved that passed out of the Senate 30-0.' The legislation is broadly worded but effectively targets the BWWB, which supplies water to Jefferson County and surrounding areas has drawn criticism over rates and governance. Democrats in the Jefferson County delegation have long resisted efforts to reorganize the board, saying it would give officials outside Jefferson County power over a local resource. Critics have also noted the plans would give majority-white counties control of an asset in a county that is 67% Black. Jefferson County Democrats spoke on the bill for over two hours Thursday morning. 'For over a century, the Birmingham Water Works Board has provided safe, clean and reliable water to hundreds of thousands of residents and businesses across our region,' Rep. Patrick Sellers, D-Pleasant Grove, said. 'Their work is not only essential, it's exceptional.' While Carns said he would not take any amendments on the legislation, four members of the delegation tried. Sellers said the board should not be politicized by elected state officials being eligible for appointment. He offered an amendment that would prohibit any of the appointees from being a lawmaker. The amendment failed 70-28. Rep. Ontario Tillman, D-Bessemer, offered an amendment to return appointing authority for one seat on the board to Birmingham City Council instead of the Blount County Commission because there are fewer customers in Blount County than in Jefferson County. 'We are silencing the voices of Jefferson County when it comes to being able to control their own water, which is a very precious resource,' Tillman said. 'We are losing that because we allow an outside source that serves maybe 100 people in certain areas, maybe 8% outside of Jefferson County, to be able to control the water.' The amendment failed 70-28. Rep. Jim Hill, R-Odenville, offered an amendment to limit the lieutenant governor's appointment to a resident of St. Clair County, which is served by the BWWB. He said he'd only ever support the legislation if St. Clair County was represented. 'We are a customer. We don't like to be treated that way, as if we are not important,' Hill said. 'If you think we're big enough, if you think we're important enough, if you think we ought to have representation on a board that we contribute $3 million in revenue to a year then let us have a seat.' The amendment failed 54-38. Hill abstained on the final vote. Rep. Neil Rafferty, D-Birmingham, offered an amendment to restrict the board's appointees from having ownership or interest in any sewer system located in the county the authorizing municipality is located. 'So any potential complications with this bill have not been fully considered, particularly considering the Jefferson County sewer system,' Rafferty said. The amendment failed 69-29. Rafferty began protesting the legislation as the House adopted the Special Order Calendar. He said the bill is an assault on local governance. 'Each of us in this chamber would be rightfully concerned if outside representatives attempted to dictate how water systems operate in our districts without consulting us or even including us at the table, or, hell, even the room where this legislation was created,' he said. Sellers said during debate that there are other issues with water supply and sewage in the state that are more important than restructuring the BWWB. 'Lowndes County, a significant portion of this majority black, low-income community, lacks proper sewer infrastructure, leading to raw sewage exposure in homes and public spaces,' he said. 'Why now? Why the Birmingham Water Works Board?' Rep. Kelvin Datcher, D-Birmingham, called the bill undemocratic after it passed 66-27. 'What happened is undemocratic, and it absolutely destroys the opportunity for us to continue to work together as a region,' he said. The bill goes to Gov. Kay Ivey's desk to be signed into law. A message seeking comment from her office was sent Thursday afternoon. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
